WOODLAND WIZARDRY

SPRING EPHEMERALS MAKE FLORAL MAGIC BEFORE THEIR DISAPPEARING ACT

- MATTHEW OLSON

In one of my earliest memories, we’re driving to my family’s cabin and I can see vast swaths of trillium in bloom along the highway. The effect was stunning, with the flowering plants creating the appearance of a white carpet on the forest floor.

Trilliums are members of a plant category known as spring ephemerals, which consists of many genera and species. Ephemerals are subtle and surely seasonal, but they have a unique charm we can put to work in our gardens.

The word ephemeral means “lasting for a short time.” Spring ephemerals emerge in spring before the trees begin to leaf out. These perennial plants thrive in rich, undisturbed woodlands, primarily in deciduous forests. Spurred by the warming soil, their early appearance allows them to flower and photosynthesize before the tree canopy fills in to block the sunlight. In early summer, these plants go dormant and disappear until the next spring, with energy stored in their underground structures.

GARDEN CHARMS

Ephemerals are beautiful in the woods, but they look magical in the garden, too. Their flowers are often unique and recognizable, from the showy three-petaled blooms of trillium to the aptly named Jack-in-the-pulpit. Although they’re visible for only a short time, ephemerals make a strong impression when thoughtfully sited.